Uncompressing Unix Files in Windows via DTS

[fuzzyocelot]

I need to automate the weekly load of two files from an internal ftp site into one of the databases on our SQL 2000 cluster (SP3a). Normally we do this manually every week. However, it needs to be automated to run after hours because people are starting to use this database during business hours. I can’t update the tables while they’re using them because the process truncates the tables and then loads the data.

The problem is the files are unix compressed files (i.e. file.unl.Z) and I need to be able to unzip them on the Windows server (Win 2003 SP2). I've tried using the compact command via the command prompt and it doesn't work. Probably because it's a unix compressed file. Normally I use the evaluation version of WinZip to unzip the files onto my desktop and then I run the DTS package to load the files. It's my understanding that WinZip is no longer supported by our organization and chances are slim I’ll be allowed to download/buy a third party program. I may be able to as a last resort if I’ve exhausted all other options. Does anyone know of any tool or command that will allow me to uncompress these files on a Windows server via the command line? I can't find any such tool within SQL 2000 or 2005.

I appreciate any advice!

 

[mutley1]

If you were to find a free tool then surely that would be "unsupported" by your company too? Not quite sure what you mean by winzip no longer being supported. If it works, use it (eval version). If you find another "tool" they they will need to support that?

if not, try

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Ftp/uncompress.html#Z

Google result #1 for "uncompress unix files"

HTH.

M.

 

[fuzzyocelot]

Thanks for the response.

Actually I found out this morning that we've never supported WinZip. There are certain policies put into place that I have to follow. Also, to be more accurate, I work for a local government agency. So some things that make sense in the private industry may not make sense or apply where I work.

If I've exhausted all other options, I may be able to convince the proper "authorities" that we need a free tool to do the job. I'll take a look at the link you've provided to see if it'll work for us.

Also, we may have a workaround. One of our network guys may have a Linux server that I can use to uncompress the files as part of the process. He's looking into it for me.

As for the evaluation version of WinZip, it does not have a command line option that I can use to automate the process. Otherwise, I'd try to use that on the server if they'd let me.

Thanks!

 

[mutley1]

Ah right - gotcha now!

Good luck!

Cheers,

M.